There is a softness to our newest Cosmos print that feels almost dreamlike. A print that seems to bloom gently from within the fabric itself, delicate, tonal and quietly expressive. Inspired by faded petals and washed skies, each piece carries a sense of warmth and lightness that feels both nostalgic and timeless.
For this print, we explored the traditional technique of discharge hand block printing, a process guided as much by intuition as by craftsmanship. Slow and meticulous in nature, it is a form of making that asks artisans to work with patience, presence and care, allowing the fabric to reveal itself gradually over time.
Unlike conventional printing, discharge printing begins with the fabric first being dyed to a solid colour. From there, carved wooden blocks are carefully pressed by hand onto the cloth using a specialised discharge paste designed to gently lift colour from the fabric. Rather than layering pigment onto the surface, the design slowly emerges from within, creating a softness and depth that feels almost organic in its finish.
As the artisans move across the fabric, fine corn flour is dusted lightly by hand over the surface. The powder settles only into the damp, freshly printed areas, quietly revealing where each motif has already been placed. It becomes a gentle guide throughout the process, helping maintain rhythm, balance and continuity across metres of fabric, while allowing the beauty of the hand-printed nature to remain visible within every piece.
The technique itself is deeply connected to the environment around it. Discharge printing can only be carried out on warm days, when the temperature allows the paste to react correctly with the dyed fabric. Timing, warmth and air all become part of the making.
It is a process that cannot be rushed or forced. Each stage moves in rhythm with the natural conditions around it, requiring patience from the artisans who carry it out. In many ways, it reflects the heart of slow fashion itself, allowing time, craft and nature to work together as they are meant to.
This slower, more intentional way of making is what gives Cosmos its depth and individuality, making each piece feel all the more special.
Once printed, the fabric is left to dry before undergoing a gentle steam-curing process. Slowly, through warmth and time, the colour begins to release from the printed areas, revealing the design softly from within the cloth itself. What remains is not a print that sits heavily on the surface, but one that feels entirely part of the fabric, breathable, seamless and lived-in from the very beginning.
For Cosmos, this process creates a softness and movement that feels impossible to replicate through modern printing methods alone. Slight variations in tone, texture and placement are not imperfections, but reflections of the human hand behind each piece, small reminders of the artistry, care and time woven into every stage of its making.
It is this slower, more thoughtful way of creating that sits at the heart of Daughters of India. A belief in honouring the people behind each piece and supporting the continuation of traditional handmade craftsmanship passed down through generations. By working in rhythm with nature and embracing slower methods of making, we create pieces with lasting beauty, designed to be worn, loved and treasured for years to come.
